UTSA Student Center for Community Engagement hosts Ujima celebration

Ujima graduation event

Ujima graduation celebration event

Share this Story

(May 12, 2014) -- The UTSA Student Center for Community Engagement and Inclusion presented the annual Ujima graduation ceremony in the H-E-B University Center Ballroom on April 29. Ujima honors the graduation of black/African-American students. Ujima (pronounced oo-JEE-mah) is named after the third principle of Kwanzaa and stands for unity, knowledge and responsibility.

This year, Ujima gathered the largest group of graduates since the inception of the program. More than 100 graduating students attended. This year's graduates were presented with stoles and certificates to commemorate their accomplishments.

The ceremony opened with a welcome by Destiny Jones, Black Student Union president, and a rendition of the "Black National Anthem" by student Grace Williamson. The keynote speaker for the evening was Sonja Lanehart, Brackenridge Endowed Chair in Literature and the Humanities in the UTSA Department of English.

Two students received leadership awards in honor of their commitment to leadership and responsibility. This year's recipients were students Jantel Fontenot and Jamille Henderson. Pesha Mabrie, UTSA housing and residence life complex coordinator, received an award in recognition of her leadership and mentorship for UTSA students.

In attendance were Sam Gonzales, vice president for student affairs; Lawrence Williams, vice provost for University College; and members of the UTSA Black Faculty and Staff Association.

For more information about this annual event, visit the UTSA Student Center for Community Engagement and Inclusion website.

 

 

Events



Spotlight

UTSA Bold Promise CTA

UTSA’s Mission

The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.

UTSA’s Vision

To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.

UTSA’s Core Values

We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.

UTSA’S Destinations

UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .

Our Commitment to Inclusivity

The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.